Poetry is the utterance of deep and heart-felt truth - the true

"Poetry is the utterance of deep and heart-felt truth - the true poet is very near the oracle." These powerful words by Edwin Hubbel Chapin remind us of the sacred and transformative role of poetry in human life. Poetry, Chapin asserts, is not mere entertainment or artifice, but the utterance of profound truths that speak directly to the heart and soul. The true poet, according to Chapin, does not merely write for personal gain or aesthetic pleasure; rather, the poet taps into the deepest wells of human experience and wisdom, bringing forth truths that often transcend the limitations of everyday language. In this way, the poet becomes a modern-day oracle, speaking with a clarity and insight that rivals the ancient seers who were believed to communicate the will of the gods.

In the ancient world, poetry was revered as a divine art form, closely tied to truth and wisdom. The Greeks believed that poets were inspired by the gods themselves, acting as conduits for divine insight. Homer, the great poet of ancient Greece, was seen as a vessel of profound truth. His epics, The Iliad and The Odyssey, were more than just stories of heroism and adventure; they were reflections on the nature of humanity, fate, and the gods. Homer’s ability to express the complexities of the human soul, the struggles between personal desires and divine will, elevated him to a status near that of an oracle, with his words carrying the weight of truth that transcended generations.

In ancient Rome, poets such as Virgil and Horace also played similar roles in shaping the moral and philosophical fabric of their society. Virgil’s Aeneid not only told the tale of Aeneas’s journey, but it also explored themes of duty, sacrifice, and the very founding of Rome, offering lessons that were deeply tied to the truths of Roman identity and destiny. Horace, with his Odes, used poetry to impart timeless wisdom on human nature, virtue, and self-control. Through their works, these poets communicated truths about the human condition that spoke directly to the hearts of their audiences, much as Chapin suggests poetry should.

Chapin’s assertion that the true poet is near the oracle suggests that poetry is a sacred practice—one that connects the poet to the divine and the eternal. A poet, like the ancient oracles, is able to tap into a higher knowledge or wisdom, distilling it into verses that speak to the human soul. William Shakespeare, whose work has endured for centuries, is another example of a poet whose insights into love, betrayal, power, and fate continue to resonate deeply with us today. In his sonnets and plays, Shakespeare captured the essence of human experience in a way that transcends time, allowing his truths to speak to the hearts of generations long after his death.

Consider also the profound impact of Walt Whitman, whose poetry in Leaves of Grass sought to express the universality of the human experience. Whitman’s work is filled with an unflinching embrace of the truths of nature, the body, the spirit, and the interconnectedness of all beings. His use of free verse and expansive, inclusive language reflects Chapin’s idea of the poet as an oracle, speaking with a voice that both transcends individual existence and connects to something larger—something timeless and universal. Through Whitman, we see that the true poet is not simply an observer of the world, but an active participant in unraveling the deep truths of life.

The lesson embedded in Chapin’s words is one of sacredness and purpose in the art of poetry. Poetry is not a form of expression for self-indulgence or trivial entertainment, but rather a means of sharing deep truths—truths that can heal, elevate, and transform. The poet’s role is not only to reflect on the world but to reveal its underlying essences, to ask questions and offer answers that speak to the heart of what it means to be human. Whether through the exploration of love, suffering, beauty, or fate, poetry allows us to experience the world in a way that is both deeply personal and collectively shared.

In practical terms, this means that we must embrace the power of poetry in our own lives. We should approach poetry with reverence, recognizing that it has the ability to reveal truths that cannot always be expressed in ordinary language. Whether reading the works of Homer, Shakespeare, Whitman, or contemporary poets, we should listen not just to the words on the page, but to the wisdom and insight that lie beneath them. We should also cultivate our own voices as poets, whether in writing or in the way we live our lives, striving to express the truths we encounter in our hearts with the same depth and authenticity that Chapin describes.

Thus, let us carry Chapin’s words forward, recognizing that the role of the poet, much like the ancient oracle, is to speak with truth, to reveal the essence of the human condition, and to challenge us to reflect on the deeper meanings of our existence. Through poetry, we can uncover the truths of life that are too often hidden beneath the surface of everyday experience. Let us honor and seek out poetry, for it is a language of the soul, a pathway to understanding the vast mysteries of our world and our place within it. May we never forget that, in the utterance of deep, heartfelt truths, the poet becomes a beacon of light in a world that often needs the clarity only truth can provide.